COL BKB: Kansas 84, North Dakota St. 74

MINNEAPOLIS, March 20 (UPI) -- Sherron Collins' 32 points and eight assists Friday led Kansas to an 84-74 NCAA Tournament victory against North Dakota State.

The defending national champions sealed the contest at the Metrodome in Minneapolis when Collins sank six consecutive free throws and Cole Aldrich converted a 3-point play in the waning stages.

Kansas built a 43-34 halftime lead but was unable to shake the 14th-seeded Bison mainly because Ben Woodside scored 37 points on 13-of-23 shooting.

Aldrich scored 23 points with 11 rebounds for the third-seeded Jayhawks (26-7), who face either Dayton or West Virginia in Sunday's second round.

The Bison were down 62-59 but Collins hit a 3-point shot, Brady Morningstar dropped in a layup and Aldrich made two free throws that put Kansas up 69-59 with 5:54 left. Woodside hit a 3-pointer that got NDSU within 73-67 but Aldrich scored on a put back and finished off a 3-point play that put the game away.

Bett Winkelman scored 15 with 12 rebounds and Michael Tveidt added 11 with five rebounds for the Bison (26-7), who were making their first NCAA Tournament appearance.